January

Patriot Staff

Friday

Dec 28, 2007 at 2:00 AMDec 28, 2007 at 5:33 PM

Volume, values dip slightly

The county-wide volume of real estate sales in December was down 3.9 percent from December 2005, according to Barnstable County Register of Deeds John F. Meade, and the median value of individual sales was down 1.8 percent.

Totalling out 2006, the volume of sales in the county was down 22.3 percent and total value of sales was down 11.3 percent.

Cape Codders hungry for housing

The wage required to afford a two-bedroom fair market rent property on Cape Cod is approximately $19.29 per hour.

That's the finding of a study released by the Cape Cod Commission comparing minimum wage and the average rental property priced in Barnstable County.

At $6.75, the minimum wage rate during the time was conducted, a renter would have to work 114 hours per week to afford a fair market rent property.

To reduce the pressure on Barnstable County renters, said commission affordable-housing specialist Paul Ruchinskas, more affordable rental units, including both houses and apartments, are needed.

"The solution... is increased density," he said. "Every community on Cape should allow apartments over commercial spaces."

Access remains an issue for liquor store project

The relocation of Blanchard's Liquors from Cape Cod Mall property on Route 28 to the site of the defunct Knights of Columbus Hall across from Barnstable Middle School needs further tweaking.

Building Commissioner Tom Perry said the plans could have been approved administratively at site plan review were it not for issues involving rear access to the property.

Some zoning relief is needed to complete access design at the rear of the lot.

Kendrick's contents go to auction next week

Kendrick's has been a troubled spot in the past year, with charges of gunshots inside, stabbings outside and a fire that has kept the establishment closed since the fall.

At the end of the month, the contents of the North Street, Hyannis building will be sold to the highest bidder. The auction has nothing to do with the real estate.

Kendrick's filed an appeal this month with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to protest the Barnstable Licensing Authority's decision not to renew the establishment's license.

Windmill ordinance goes to council

Town planners don't want windmill projects to blow past them and are offering a zoning ordinance to review and allow the structures.

The ordinance would cover both commercial and residential zoning districts via a special permit, but requires any wind tower to be an accessory to a permitted use.

"It is the express purpose of this ordinance to accommodate distributed generation/wind energy conversion facilities in appropriate locations, while minimizing any adverse visual, safety and environmental impacts of the facilities," the ordinance reads.